The Cyclones, Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma — all are threats to end Kansas’ 14-year domination of regular-season championships, but it’s too early to get too hyped after just two Big 12 games, you say?

Not really, considering Iowa State already has a win on the road — with another roadie coming up Tuesday at so-so Baylor. That could be two road wins in a conference that’s historically tough to win away from home — and a victory against sixth-ranked Kansas in the first two weeks of the real season.

Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton (22) and Iowa State's Marial Shayok (3) celebrate after a big three pointer during the first half of their basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton (22) celebrates with Iowa State's George Conditt IV (4) after a big 3-pointer during the first half of their basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

“I don’t know about a statement, but we played well in stretches,” Prohm said after Iowa State’s most lopsided win against Kansas since 1973. “We let the guys know that if we do things the right way and we compete the right way — we have a chance to be a really good basketball team.”

His team competed the right way before a rockin' and rollin' crowd at Hilton Coliseum Saturday. That was especially evident during a second half in which the Cyclones made 9 of their 13 three-point attempts while outscoring the Jayhawks 41-28.

Unflappable freshman Tyrese Haliburton made both his three-point baskets in the second half en route to scoring 14 points in the game. Big 12 scoring leader Marial Shayok was three-for-three during the telling second half and scored a game-best 24 points. Nick Weiler-Babb nailed both his second-half three-pointers. Lindell Wigginton, who was off his long-range game, nonetheless had a big one in the second half.

“Those four guards can play for anybody in the country,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “They’re part of the rotations for the best teams in the country.”

Right now, they’re part of a team that made a statement Saturday against the team picked to win the Big 12 regular season title for a 15th time in a row.

Statement?

“I guess it’d be that they have to take us seriously,” Weiler-Babb said.

No kidding. That 13-18 season a year ago? What 13-18 season?

“They don’t have McDonald’s All-Americans like some schools are able to recruit, but by the time they’ve been at a place for a year or two, they end up being every bit as good as the heralded guys going to their respective schools,” Self said.

Reminds me of what former Iowa State coach Wayne Morgan once said during a postgame radio interview — that while Kansas gets five McDonalds All-Americans every year, “our guys eat at McDonalds.”

Lol.

“We have a lot of good teams in our league,” Prohm said. “You can’t get ahead of yourself in this league. It’s Baylor. It’s Kansas State. It happens so quick.”

It’s at Baylor on Tuesday. It’s back to Hilton on Saturday against K-State.

“Obviously they’re the standard in our league — the team everybody’s trying to catch from the standpoint of the success they’ve had,” Prohm said of the Jayhawks.

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Iowa State's Cameron Lard (2) blocks the shot of during the first half of their basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Ames. (Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

The Jayhawks were playing without 7-foot Udoka Azubuike, who hurt his wrist during Saturday morning practice. He came into the game averaging 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and almost two blocked shots a game.

“Azubuike is such a big physical presence,” Prohm said. “They were missing possibly their best player. He’s such a tough matchup.”

Azubuike would have been defenseless, however, against what happened during two second-half Cyclones possessions in a row – long three-pointers by cool and calm Haliburton and Wigginton – that gave Iowa State a 60-47 lead with 9:28 to play.

Shayok played on wonderful Virginia teams before transferring to Iowa State. He played in NCAA Tournaments. He knows the championship formula.

“We’re right there,” Shayok said. “We have the talent, for sure. We showed that we can play with anyone when we pay attention to detail.”

And that’s about as good a statement as it gets.

Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.